Well, Willie, the "Nazi Youth" crack is a cheap shot, since there's no evidence Ratzinger/Benedict was anything more than a nominal member - and Hitler Jugend membership was required of everyone who lived where he lived. What would you have done?
Yes, there are religious literalists who insist on absolute acceptance of the "facts" they believe - but there are lots of us who see religion as an idealistic lifestyle expressed in allegory and poetry and folklore and mysticism. Ratzinger/Benedict tends more in that direction, than one might think.

-Joe-

And Smokey, I don't know that I agree with the Pope on this anti-discrimination issue - I just think he has a right to speak his mind about it. If people disagree with him, they should be able to refute his position, not his Hitler Jugend membership or his right to speak on an issue that affects his church.